PPD ARO and Partners hold the 2018 Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH) MEETING – in Kampala.
Between 30-31 October 2018, Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO), in conjunction with NEAPACOH and partners organized a two (2) days’ high level meeting of Parliamentary Committees of Health which took place at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda.
The meeting which was opened by the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga was attended by parliamentarians who chair or are members of the parliamentary committees on health, their Committee Clerks. Other participants were key representatives of development partners, Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders engaged in Family Planning, Reproductive Health and Maternal and Child Health programmes from 25 countries including participants from USA, the UK, and Asia.
This was the tenth meeting, in a series, that was organized under the auspices of NEAPACOH. With a theme of “Building the capacity of African policy makers for reproductive health and family planning”. The meeting provided space for discussions between and among members of the parliamentary committees of health and developed concrete policy actions aimed at building and sustaining momentum for political will for reproductive health and family planning (RH/FP) in the context of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Parliamentarians from 15 African countries (Burundi, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe) shared progress, lessons learned and remaining challenges on implementation of the RH/FP related country commitments that were made during the December 2017 NEAPACOH meeting and also made new commitments. Other countries represented by different partners especially Civil Society, included, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Tunisia, United Kingdom, USA and Zambia.
Participants appreciated the Parliament of Uganda and PPD through its ARO and all the partners for hosting the meeting which enabled Parliamentarians to interface with experts, researchers, civil society voices and development partners. They recalled the commitments made at the International Conference on Population & Development (ICPD) Plan of Action adopted in 1994, under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including the Maputo Protocol and the Maputo Plan of Action, and at several NEAPACOH meetings in the area of RH/FP, population and development over the past years.
Participants were concerned by the slow progress in implementation of the foregoing commitments, especially against the impetus of the renewed commitment towards integrated, people-centered Primary Health Care as espoused by the Astana Declaration of October 2018.
Participants acknowledged the strategic value of NEAPACOH to promote knowledge sharing, through the exchange of best practices, facilitate policy dialogue and identify innovative practices to the attainment of national, regional and global goals on reproductive health, population and sustainable development through South- South Cooperation.
Determined to harness the benefits evidence to inform policy, action and decision making in the critical areas of reproductive health and family planning.
Participants noted that reproductive health and family planning remain critically important for the sustainable development of the African continent and hence observed that it is essential to continue positioning them as high priorities on the continent’s development agenda;
The meeting was closed by the Hon. David Bahati, Uganda’s Minister of State for Planning in the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development. He thanked participating countries and development partners and pledged Uganda government continued support to the Network through PPD.
The final report and photos from the meeting are available on the links below.
The program for the meeting is available online by clicking on the links below
NEAPACOH Program (French)
A number of key documents from the meetings are available online by clicking on the links below;
Day One: October 30, 2018
Session One : Opening Ceremony / Remarks
- Dr. Jotham Musinguzi, Director General, National Population Council, Uganda
- Mr. Adnene Ben Haj Aissa, Executive Director, Partners in Population and Development
- Hon. Ruth Labode, Chairperson NEAPACOH
- Mr. Alain Sibenaler, UNFPA Country Representative, Kampala
- Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker of Parliament, Parliament of Uganda
Session Two :
- Key Note address by Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi
- Overview of reproductive health, family planning, population and development challenges in Africa
- Learning from successful Reproductive Health and Family Planning advocacy programmes: The contribution of parliamentarians, challenges and opportunities.
- Sustained accountability, leadership and stewardship for the implementation of global, regional and national RH/FP commitments in the region. The role of Parliamentarians.
- The Shape of Things to Come: New advocacy opportunities for SRH/FP in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Session Three :
Innovating for Maternal and Child Health in Africa (IMCHA): New evidence for improving maternal and child health, reproductive health/family planning outcomes: Case study of :-
Session Four :
- “The boost family planning offers towards the achievement of the SDGs: Results of the Family Planning – Sustainable Development Goals Model for the Ouagadougou Partnership”
- Enhancing the Demographic Dividend for socio economic transformation in Africa. Are African countries on track? Key lessons from successful countries.
Day Two: October 31, 2018
Session Five :
- Tracking implementation of regional and national commitments on family planning and reproductive health in Africa.
- Key building blocks of the monitoring and accountability framework for NEAPACOH commitments
- Tracking the RH/FP budget performance at country level – key indicators
Session Six:
Session Seven:
Closing Ceremony – Remarks
News media highlights from the NEAPACOH – 2018 meeting
- Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker of Parliament of Uganda wants enhanced health budget
- Housing and Urban Development Minister, Hon Baryomunsi haunted by teen mum’s death
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PPD ARO Organizes the Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH) meeting in Kampala on 13-14th December 2017.
I. Background
The health status of the people of Africa continues to be a matter of concern. The morbidity and mortality levels, especially of children and women remain unacceptably high. Access to quality health services is still limited, and women in particular face increased health risks from unplanned pregnancies and limited birth spacing. In particular, unmet need for family planning (FP) remains high in most African countries.
While governments in Africa have committed themselves to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)in international and regional agreements, like the Maputo Plan of Action on SRH, implementation of these commitments at country level remains uneven. Yet frameworks like the Maputo Plan of Action, which is an all-Africa continental framework that envisions universal access to SRHR including family planning (FP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that recognize the importance of SRHR globally would, if implemented, have uplifted the status of women and children of the continent in a very fundamental way. A review of progress in achieving the past MDGs revealed that the health-related goals in particular (MDG 4 on reducing child mortality, MDG 5 on improving maternal health, and MDG 6 on combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases) remained unfinished business in the post-2015 development agenda.
The international community agreed to an ambitious new development framework “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs) that would end poverty by 2030 and universally promote shared economic prosperity, social development and environmental protection. The SDGs that follow and expand on the MDGs were adopted at the UN in New York in September 2016. For this to happen, we need to build the capacity of African policy makers for RH/FP to ensure that SRHR including FP, continue to benefit from renewed vigour and determination in the post-2015 development agenda especially by policymakers.
It is imperative, therefore, that strong political will, national ownership and support is built and maintained in order to consolidate the gains made. The NEAPACOH aims at just that. The meeting will provide space for capacity building and constructive discussions between and among members of the African parliamentary committees of health to deliberate on priority policy interventions, build and sustain the momentum for political will for SRHR within the context of the SDGs.
II. Purpose : Goal and objectives
Goals
To build the capacity of African policy makers and ensure sustained political will and leadership for SRH/FP within the of context of the SDGs
Objectives
1. Assess progress made, challenges and lessons learned on achieving the country commitments made at the September 2016 NEAPACOH meeting;
2. Share innovative and cost effective parliamentary experiences and practices that enhance the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), FP2020 and SRH related commitments;
3. Enhance accountability, political leadership and stewardship for the implementation of RH/FP frameworks in the region in the context of the SDGs; and
4. Develop country-specific action plans for parliamentarians that promote RH/FP for implementation over the subsequent 12 months.
Expected outcomes
- Increased knowledge and appreciation by policy makers and development partners of the linkages between FP/RH and development.
- Committed political leadership for SRHR in the region;
- Increased accountability for the implementation of SRHR commitments;
- Improved polices and increased resources for FP/RH in national budgets;
- Created FP/RH champions in the region.
III. Participants
The meeting participants will be Parliamentarians who are members of the Committees of Health and their Committee Clerks, as well representatives of development partners, NGOs, Civil Society and other important stakeholders engaged in Family Planning, Reproductive Health and Maternal and Child Health programs.
The participants are expected to come from the Parliaments and National Assembles of (Angola, Benin, Burundi, Chad, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
The program for the meeting is available online by clicking on the links below
A number of key documents from the meetings are available online by clicking on the links below;
Day One: December 13, 2017
Session One : Opening Ceremony / Remarks
Dr. Jotham Musinguzi, Director General, National Population Council, Uganda
Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker of Parliament, Parliament of Uganda
Session Two :
Key Note address by Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi
Session Three :
Facilitating the sustainability of Maternal Health programs through motivation and incentivizing community health workers in Uganda
Day Two: December 14, 2017
Session Four :
Country Progress, Achievements and Challenges Regarding the implementation of country specific-actions made during the previous NEAPACOH meeting :
Session Five :
Presentation and adoption of 2017 Kampala Call to Action by Mr. Moses Dombo.
Session Six:
Closing Ceremony – Remarks
Vote of thanks by Benin Parliamentary delegation (English).
Vote of thanks by Benin Parliamentary delegation (French).
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PPD ARO Organizes the Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH). Meeting in Kampala on June 28 – July, 2016.
A successful implementation of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) including Family Planning (FP) programs requires enhanced, pragmatic leadership and stewardship from policymakers including Members of Parliament (MPs), Development Partners, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders. A review of African countries’ progress in achieving the MDGs revealed that the health-related MDGs remain unfinished business in the post-2015 development agenda.
The involvement of legislators is a strategic intervention that contributes to effective and sustained programs. It is within this context that Partners in Population and Development – Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO) in partnership with Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH) and other like-minded partners have organized a two days high level policy advocacy meeting with African parliamentarians and stakeholders engaged in FP, RH and Maternal and Child Health programs which will take place on June 28 – July 1, 2016, in Kampala. The theme of this meeting is; “From Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Challenges and Opportunities for Parliaments to enhance Reproductive Health/ Family Planning”.
The objectives of this eighth meeting, in a series, are to:
- Assess progress made, challenges and lessons learned on achieving the country commitments made at the September 2014 NEAPACOH meeting;
- To have a common understanding of the challenges and opportunities for SRHR in the post-2015 development agenda;
- Share experiences and innovative practices on the implementation of RH including FP commitments in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- Enhance accountability, political leadership and stewardship for the implementation of RH/FP frameworks in the region in the context of the SDGs; and
- Develop country-specific action plans for parliamentarians that promote RH/FP for implementation over the coming 12 months.
In order to deliver on the objectives of this meeting, the organisers of the meeting have invited at least two MPs who chair or/and members of the health committees from their respective parliaments, and their technical personnel. The latter will arrive in Kampala on 26th June to attend a two days precursor training workshop tailored to building capacity of Parliament technical staff in sourcing relevant information and evidence for MPs to support their debates in Parliament and in decision-making. This meeting is jointly organised by PPD ARO and partners namely African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), Population Council through the STEP UP Project, and Innovating for Maternal and Child Health in Africa (IMCHA). Given the unique nature of their roles of legislation, budget appropriation and oversight, it is important to provide space for MPs, to understand the transition from MDGs to SDGs and what they need to do in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This is the locus of the meeting.
Close to forty African countries are expected to attend the meeting whose opening will be presided by the Minister of State for Finance Planning and Economic Development of Uganda while the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda will preside over the closure.
The program for the meeting is available online by clicking on the links below
A number of key documents from the meetings are available online by clicking on the links below;
Day One: July 29, 2016
Session One : Opening Ceremony / Remarks
Dr. Jotham Musinguzi, Director General, National Population Council, Uganda
Speech by Dr. Joe Thomas Executive Director Partners in Population and Development
Marianne Haslegrave, New advocacy opportunities for SRH – SDGs context
Session Two
From Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The Interface
From the MDGs to SDGs: Challenges and Opportunities for RH/FP
Leadership and Stewardship for SDGs
Investing in young people will accelerate harnessing the Demographic Dividend in Africa
Innovating for Maternal and Child Health in Africa (IMCHA)
Strengthening Evidence Use in Parliament: The Role of MPs
Day Two: July 30, 2016
Country Progress, Achievements and Challenges Regarding the implementation of country specific-actions made during the previous NEAPACOH meeting
Session Seven:
Closing Ceremony – Remarks
Official Closing by Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament of Uganda
Vote of thanks by Togo Parliamentary delegation
2016 Final Meeting Report
Please find the NEAPACOH 2016 Final Report at this link
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SEAPACOH now has its own website with more details of the networks meeting and activities, in addition to useful background information to members. The SEAPACOH website can be accessed at: http://seapacoh.org
The PPD Africa Regional Office supports the policy work of SEAPACOH, the Southern and Eastern African Parliamentary Alliance of Committees of Health. SEAPACOH is a network of parliamentary committees on health, HIV/AIDS and on equity in health drawn from countries in Southern and Eastern Africa. The alliance works to enhance the effectiveness of the committees in addressing issues of inequity in health, HIV/AIDS, family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) through policy, resource allocation, budgetary oversight and legislative oversight.
According to its strategic plan (2009-2013), SEAPACOH’s vision is “Health for all as a fundamental human right.” Its mission is “To provide consistent collaboration of the Parliamentary Committees on Health in the ESA Region in their representational, legislative, budgetary processes including appropriation and oversight roles to achieve health for all.” Its three (3) main areas of focus for the period 2009-2013 are:
- Ensuring needs-based resourcing of the health sector;
- Ensuring effective domestication, implementation and compliance with agreed upon commitments in the health sector by governments; and
- Ensuring sustainability of the Alliance.
PPD ARO has supported SEAPACOH through hosting meeting, providing ongoing technical support, including for the development and maintainace of the SEAPACOH website: http://seapacoh.org/
The SEAPACOH website is intended to strengthen the regional alliance of SEACAPOH by providing a forum for:
- Networking among health professionals and development partners within the region;
- Improving regular and ongoing communications and sharing of information through technology;
- Making progress on reporting of health data; and
- Monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of resolutions made by SEACAPOH at the annual meetings.
Meeting of the Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH), Kampala, Uganda,October 2-3, 2014
Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO) and partners organized a regional meeting of parliamentarians on October 2– 3, 2014 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda. The meeting was organized under the auspices of the Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH).
The meeting participants were parliamentarians who are members of the committees on health and their committee clerks, as well as representatives of development partners, Civil Society and other important stakeholders engaged in Family Planning, Reproductive Health and Maternal and Child Health programmes.
The theme for the meeting was “Achieving the FP2020 commitments to enhance the Demographic Dividend for Africa in the post 2015 development agenda. The meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen political support to achieve and sustain momentum for family planning as well as promote accountability for FP2020 commitments among parliamentarians, ministry of health officials, development partners and civil society representatives in Africa.
The specific objectives of the meeting were:
- Assess progress made, challenges and lessons learned on achieving the country commitments made at the Sept 2013 NEAPACOH meeting;
- Discuss and share innovative practices and emerging issues related to FP2020 commitments, challenges and successes, and lessons learned;
- Develop country team advocacy objectives and strategies to engage wider policy, technical and other audiences for advancing FP2020 commitments over the coming 12 months.
A number of key documents from the meetings are available online by clicking on the links below.
Day One: October 2, 2014
Dr. Deepmala Mahla’s presentation on Addressing human resource for health -task sharing
Marianne Haslegrave’s presentation on Advocacy opportunities in post-2015 development agenda
Dr. Nichole Zlatunich’s presentation on Costed Implementation Plans for FP2020
Esperance Fundira’s presentation on Highlights of the 29Th UN General Assembly On ICPD
Dr. Joyce Mumah’s presentation on Using Evidence To Increase Access To Family Planning
Day Two: October 3, 2014
Country Progress, Achievements and Challenges Regarding the implementation of country specific-actions made during the NEAPACOH meeting 2013
Meeting of Women Parliamentarians, in Kampala, Uganda, September 30 – October 1, 2014
Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO) in collaboration with the Health Policy Project (HPP) organized a two – day advocacy skills building meeting for selected African women Parliamentarians on Tuesday, September 30 and Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda.
The main objective of the meeting was to strengthen political support to achieve and sustain momentum for family planning as well as promote joint accountability for FP2020 commitments among parliamentarians, ministry of health officials and civil society representatives in Africa.
The specific objectives of the meeting were:
- Assess progress made on 2013 women parliamentarians’ advocacy objectives, challenges and successes in implementation, and lessons learned
- Learn about ministry of health and civil society activities related to FP2020 commitments, challenges and successes, and lessons learned
- Promote understanding of how to be jointly accountable for FP2020 commitments
- Develop country team advocacy objectives and individual strategies for advancing FP2020 commitments over the coming 12 months.
Participants to the women parliamentarians’ meeting were women parliamentarians, ministry of health officials and civil society representatives drawn from HPP/PPD ARO focus countries of Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi and Uganda where PPD ARO and HPP are implementing targeted advocacy for repositioning Family Planning/ Reproductive Health.
A number of key documents from the meetings are available online by clicking on the links below.
Dr. Jotham Musinguzi’s presentation on FP2020 goals and implementation structures by PPD ARO
Abdelylah Lakssir’s presentation on overview of AFP SMART APPROACH
Presentations on National commitments from respective Ministry of Health country representatives
Ghana
Malawi
Uganda
Country presentations on the role of Civil Society Organisation in Family Planning
Ethiopia
Ghana
Malawi
Country Progress, Achievements and Challenges Regarding implementation of Commitments made at 2013Women Parliamentarian Conference
MP’s presentations on new advocacy objectives and implementation plans
Meeting of the Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health(NEAPACOH) , Kampala, Uganda, September 16 – 20, 2013
During the fifth regional meeting of Southern and Eastern Africa Parliamentary Alliance of Committees of Health (SEAPACOH) that was held in Kampala, Uganda, from August 29 – 31, 2012, it was recognized that, by and large, African countries share common challenges for health in general and reproductive health and family planning in particular. It was therefore agreed that the mandate of SEAPACOH, under whose auspices the meeting was organized, be expanded to cover the whole of Africa in addressing issues of Family Planning, Reproductive Health and Maternal and Child Health. Henceforth, SEAPACOH was transformed and renamed the Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH), open for all African parliaments to be members.
Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO), therefore, in conjunction with NEAPACOH organized a meeting of Parliamentary Committees of Health in Africa on September 16 – 20, 2013 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda.
The meeting participants included Parliamentarians who are members of the Committees on Health and their Committee Clerks, as well representatives of development partners, NGOs, Civil Society and other important stakeholders engaged in Family Planning, Reproductive Health and Maternal and Child Health programmes.
The theme for the meeting was “Reproductive health and family planning in the post 2015 sustainable development framework”. This meeting therefore provided an opportunity to discuss and advocate for critical reproductive health and family planning areas that need to be prioritized in the post- 2015 development framework. The meeting further provided an opportunity to discuss and review progress, share experiences and lessons learnt over the past one year on the implementation of the commitments that the parliamentarians agreed to take action on in their respective countries during the 2012 SEAPACOH meeting.
The specific objectives of the meeting were to:
- Provide a forum for exchange of information and good practices, achievements and challenges on the implementation of the commitments agreed at the Sept 2012 SEAPACOH meeting;
- Discuss and share innovative practices and emerging issues related to reproductive health and family planning which need to be prioritized in the post- 2015 development agenda;
- Develop priority action plans for the parliamentarians to engage wider policy, technical and other audiences in addressing reproductive health and family planning in their respective countries; and
- Come up with suggestions and recommendations for strengthening the institutional capacity of NEAPACOH as a continental network
A number of key documents from the meetings are available online by clicking on the links below.
Opening Ceremony
Opening Remarks
Speech by Hon. Matia Kasaija, Minister of State for Finance, Uganda
Speech by Ms. Esperance Fundira, UNFPA Representative, Uganda
Day One: September 17, 2013
Dr. Kate Tulenko’s presentation on Human Resources for Health
Ms. Marriane H’s Presentation on Moving the ICPD Agenda 2013-2015
Dr. Marie Goretti’s Presentation on MDGs and Maputo Plan of Action
Hon. Dr. Baryomunsi’s Presentation on Maternal Health in Africa
2012 Regional Meeting of the Southern and Eastern African Parliamentary Alliance of Committees of Health
A number of key documents from the meetings are available online by clicking on the links below.
Opening Ceremony
Opening Remarks
Speech by Hon. Dr. Christine Ondoa, Minister of Health, Uganda
Speech by Hon. Janet K. Museveni, M.P. Uganda’s First Lady and Minister for Karamoja Affairs
Day One: August 29, 2012
Dr. Eliya Msiyaphazi Zulu’s Presentation on Demographic Dividends, Family Planning/Reproductive Health, Population and Development
Hon. Obama’s Presentation on the Women parliamentarians meeting: Enhancing Leadership for FP/RH
Mr. Maurice I. Middleberg’s Presentation on Principles for solving the health workforce crisis
Mr. Elly Mugumya’s Presentation on the Leadership, Management, and Governance (LMG) Project
Day Two: August 30, 2012
Hon. Blessing Chebundo’s Presentation on the Highlights of SEAPACOH Strategic Plan
Dr. Jotham Musinguzi’s Presentation on Introduction to Group work
Day Three: August 31, 2012
Country Progress, Achievements and Challenges Regarding the Implementation of the September 2011 SEAPACOH Meeting Resolutions and Reporting on Parliamentary Work to Advance FP/RH
Closing Ceremony
Closing Remarks
Hon Najjemda’s Speech at the closing
2011 Regional Meeting of the Southern and Eastern African Parliamentary Alliance of Committees of Health
“Repositioning Family Planning and Reproductive Health in Africa: Lessons Learnt, Challenges and Opportunities”
Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala, Uganda, 27-29 September 2011
A number of key documents from the meeting are available online by clicking on the links below. All documents are in English, unless noted.
Recommendations and Country Action Items, as agreed on 29 September 2011: recommendations.pdf
Recommendations (in French): recommendations-f.pdf
List of Country Action Items, sorted by topic: CAI.pdf
Programme (in English): programme.pdf
Programme (in French): http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2011/programme-f.pdf
Media Brief for Journalists: media-brief.pdf
Photographs: https://picasaweb.google.com/PPDAfricaRegionalOffice/SEAPACOH2011
List of Participants: px.pdf
Results from SEAPACOH Survey on Future Follow-Up and Communications: follow-up.pdf
Report: report.pdf
Watch the TV news reports on the 2011 SEAPACOH Meeting that were feature stories on Uganda’s NBS and UBC TV stations: videos
Day One: Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Session One: Opening Ceremony
Opening Remarks
Dr. Jotham Musinguzi, Regional Director, PPD ARO: musinguzi.pdf
Dr. Wilfred Ochan, Assistant Representative, UNFPA, Uganda: ochan.pdf
Dr. Harry Jooseery, Executive Director, PPD: jooseery-opening.pdf
Hon. Blessing Chebundo, Chair, SEAPACOH: chebundo.pdf
Dr. Janet Byaruhanga, African Union Commission:
Mr. Jerry P. Lanier, U.S. Ambassador, Uganda: lanier
Official Opening
Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker, Parliament of Uganda
Session Two: Reproductive Health, Population and Development: Global and Regional Challenges
The Contribution of Family Planning to the Achievement of the ICPD and MDGs
Dr. Jean Christophe Fotso, African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC): fosto (1)
Maputo Plan of Action and CARMMA: Reflections on the Performance of African Countries on FP/RH
Dr. Janet Byaruhanga, African Union Commission: byaruhanga2
Drivers of Progress Towards Universal Access to Family Planning in Eastern and Southern Africa
Dr. Eliya Zulu, Executive Director, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) and Nyokabi Musila, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP): zulu-musila.pdf
Gender and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights as a Key Factor to FP/RH Programming
Prof. Grace Bantebya Kyomuhendo, Makerere University: kyomuhendo
Session Three: Repositioning Family Planning and Reproductive Health in the Region: Challenges and Opportunities for Policies, Programmes and Commodities GAP Tool Analysis for Ethiopia
Ms. Priya Emmart, Senior Policy Advisor, Futures Group: emmart
Film Presentation: Empty Handed: Responding to the Demand for Contraceptives (Available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese): http://www.empty-handed.org/
Day Two: Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Session Four: Effective Programming, Innovations, Best Practices and Financing for Repositioning FP/RH
National FP Policy & Advocacy: Best Practices and Lessons Learnt from Parliament of Uganda
Hon. Mathias Kasamba, Member of Parliament, Uganda: kasamba
Ethiopia’s Health Extension Programme (HEP): Expanding Access to Family Planning
Sr. Sossena Belayneh, Ministry of Health, Ethiopia: belayneh
Malawi’s Rising FP Programme: Lessons from Integrating FP and Maternal and Child Health
Dr. Chisale Mhango, Consultant, Malawi: mhango (1)
Civil Society Experiences of Working with Parliaments: The Case of Zimbabwe
Mr. Itai Rusike, Executive Director, Community Working Group on Health (CWGH): rusike
Human Resources for Health Systems Strengthening: Policy and Programme Implications to FP/RH
Dr. Vincent Oketcho, Country Director, IntraHealth Uganda: oketcho
Financing for Family Planning: Options and Challenges
Dr. Paulin Basinga, Professor, School of Public Health, National University of Rwanda: basinga
Session Five: Country Achievements and Challenges in Repositioning FP/RH, Including the Implementation of the SEAPACOH Strategic Plan
Review of the Implementation of the SEAPACOH Strategic Plan: Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward
Hon. Blessing Chebundo, Chairperson, SEAPACOH: chebundo-review
Country Progress, Achievements and Challenges Regarding the Implementation of the September 2010 Munyonyo Parliamentary Meeting Resolutions and Reporting on Parliamentary Work to Advance FP/RH (countries who have not attended previous SEAPACOH meetings will present on parliamentary work to advance FP/RH)
- Parliament of Kenya: kenya
- Parliament of Swaziland: swaziland
- Parliament of Botswana: botswana
- Parliament of Zimbabwe
- Parliament of Burundi
- Parliament of Ethiopia: ethiopia
- Parliament of Ghana
- Parliament of Lesotho
- Parliament of Malawi: malawi
- Parliament of Mozambique
- Parliament of Mali (in French): mali (1)
- Parliament of Namibia: namibia
Day Three: Thursday, September 29, 2011
Session Six: Country Achievements and Challenges in Repositioning FP/RH
Country Progress, Achievements and Challenges (continued)
- Parliament of Uganda: uganda
- Parliament of Nigeria
- Parliament of Rwanda: rwanda
- Parliament of Tanzania: tanzania
- Parliament of Zimbabwe
Session Seven: Resolutions
Presentation, Discussion and Adoption of Kampala 2011 Resolutions and Recommendations
Hon. Munji Habeenzu, Executive Member, SEAPACOH
Session Eight: Closing Ceremony
Closing Remarks
Dr. Jotham Musinguzi, Regional Director, PPD ARO
Dr. Harry Jooseery, Executive Director, PPD: jooseery-closing
Dr. Blessing Chibundo, Chair, SEAPACOH
Official Closing
Remarks on behalf of Hon. Matia Kasaija, Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Planning) and PPD Board Member: emmart
Vote of Thanks
Hon. Member of Parliament, Ghana
2010 Regional Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in Eastern and Southern Africa
“Repositioning Family Planning and Reproductive Health in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region: Challenges and Opportunities”
Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, Kampala, Uganda
28-29 September 2010
A number of key documents from the meeting are available online by clicking on the links below:
Resolutions, as agreed on 29 September 2010: resolutions
Report: report
Press Release for Parliamentarians in home countries:
in pdf: press
in Microsoft Word: press
Programme: programme2010
Photographs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ppdafrica/sets/72157625052331356/
Day One: Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Session One: Opening Session
Objectives of the Meeting by Mr. Abdelylah Lakssir, International Programme Officer, PPD ARO: lakssir-objectives
Opening Remarks by Dr. Jotham Musinguzi, Regional Director, PPD ARO: musinguzi-remarks1
Opening Remarks by Mr. James Kotzsch, Country Director, DSW Uganda:
Opening Remarks by Dr. Wilfred Ochan, UNFPA Deputy Representative, Uganda:
Opening Remarks by Hon. Henry Banyenzaki (MP, Uganda) on behalf of Hon. Saudatu Sani, African Parliamentary Network on MDGs: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/banyenzaki-remarks.pdf
Opening Remarks by Hon. Blessing Chebundo, Chairperson, SEAPACOH:
Opening Remarks by Hon. Dr. Stephen Mallinga, Minister of Health, Uganda: mallinga-remarks
Official Opening by Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, Deputy Speaker, Parliament of Uganda: kadaga-opening
Session Two: Reproductive Health, Population and Development in the Region
Population and Reproductive Health Challenges in Eastern and Southern Africa: Policy and Program Implications by Dr. Eliya Msiyaphazi Zulu, PhD., Director, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP): zulu
Maputo Plan of Action and CARMMA: Reflections on the Performance of African Countries by Dr. Wilfred Ochan, Assistant Representative, UNFPA Uganda: ochan-MaputoPoA
ochan-CARMMA
Gender and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights: A Key Factor to Successful Programmes, by Prof. Grace Bantebya, Senior Lecturer, Makerere University: bantebya
Session Three: Repositioning Family Planning in the Region: Challenges and Opportunities
Achieving the MDGs: The Contribution of Family Planning by Dr. Wilfred Ochan, Assistant Representative, UNFPA Uganda: ochan-mdgsfp
The contribution of Family Planning in achieving the MDGs in Kenya by Mr. Chaacha Mwita, Policy Engagement Manager, Africa Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya: mwita
Family Planning in Rwanda: How Family Planning Became a Priority and a Success Story by Mr. Emile Sempabwa, Policy and Development Director, IntraHealth International, Rwanda:
Presentation: sempabwa1
Summary: sempabwa2
Read the full report by IntraHealth here: http://www.intrahealth.org/files/media/5/fp_in_Rwanda.pdf or fpRwanda
2009 Regional Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in Eastern and Southern Africa
As a follow up to the strategic plan and to the 2008 Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in Eastern and Southern Africa which was held in Kampala, Uganda, Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO) in collaboration with the Regional Network for Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (EQUINET) and African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) under the auspices of the Southern and Eastern African Parliamentary Alliance of Committees on Health (SEAPACOH), jointly organized a meeting in Kampala, Uganda on 21 September 2009. The meeting was held prior to the Third EQUINET Regional Conference 23-25 September 2009 that a number of committee representatives also attended and that provided an opportunity to link parliaments with the wider community and resources involved in work on health equity in the region.
During this September 2009 follow up meeting, SEAPACOH met to report back on progress made over the past year, as well as to promote information exchange, facilitate policy dialogue and identify key areas of follow up action to advance health equity and sexual and reproductive health in the region.
During the report-back sessions where Parliamentarians had the opportunities to share information on their progress, challenges, and way forward, it was noted that critical progress by MPs was registered since September 2008. For example,
- The East Africa Legislative Assembly have developed model laws on HIV/AIDS and FGM and is working to develop pool procurement of drug, medical supplies and medical equipment; health insurance schemes, and exploring contracted health workers as opposed to salaried payroll, as part of a larger focus on examining value for money.
- In Kenya, the Parliament is focusing on proper scrutiny of the Executive budget through interrogating line ministries’ budgets; they have also pushed forward a economic stimulus package, which provisions for the constitution of model health centers across the country and the hiring of 20 nurses per constituency. Kenya has also established a parliamentary taskforce to look into, monitor and oversee action on the socio-economic inequalities, including inequality in health and access to health care; sensitized fellow MPs and communicated with Ministers of Health and Finance; and enacted a law involving the Health Committee in the budget process.
- In Malawi, Parliamentarians have moved a motion to persuade the government to come up with legislation to govern research activities and prevent abuse of citizens in clinical research trials, such as for microbicides and PMTCT.
- Namibia’s Committee on Human Resources, Social and Community Development were trained in gender based violence, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS in July 2009; undertook field visits to assess the implementation of government policies and programmes with regard to health and education issues; and revised and costed the national roadmap that outlines strategies and guidelines for improving maternal and child health as well as acceralating the reduction morbidity and mortality in 2009.
- The Parliament of Swaziland has done capacity building on sexual and reproductive health for members; members have moved several motions, including accessibility of health services, investigations on increase of abortions among young people, and investigation on the late increase on maternal mortality rates.
- In Uganda, Parliamentarians have engaged Ministries of Health and Finance and the media on the need to fund sexual and reproductive health issues; recommended policy changes in the management and administration of the budget for drugs including RH commodities; allocated additional resources for RH including HIV/AIDS; successfully advocated for a budget line of 200 million Uganda shillings for activities to address female genital mutilation (FGM); prepared and presented a private member’s bill entitled “The Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Bill, 2009; and conducted capacity-building activities.
- In Zimbabwe, the Parliament has tabled a motion on the need to link sexual and reproductive health and HIV programmes and policies that address vulnerabilities of women and children; lobbied for the provision of appropriate, affordable, accessible and friendly adolescent and reproductive health services; are currently crafting of policy on male circumcision as one of the added strategies to reduce HIV infection; and conducted research including: 2008-A Rapid Assessment of ASRH Services in Zimbabwe; 2007-9-The Zimbabwe Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Study; 2009-An Assessment of Obstetric Fistula in Zimbabwe; 2009-An Assessment of Waiting Mothers’ Shelters in Zimbabwe.
Detailed information on country progress, as well as the full meeting report is available online at: report
By the close of the meeting, Parliamentarians agreed to a Way Forward over the next year, including work to operationalize the SEAPACOH Strategic Plan; provide oversight on regional commitments and international agreements; and to support new and innovative programmes to enhance health, RH, FP, population and development, including spraying for DDT according to WHO recommendations. The full document detailing their commitments is available online at: finalcommitments
Presentations made by a number of speakers during the meeting are available online:
Opening Session:
“Opening Remarks,” Dr. Jotham Musinguzi, Regional Director, PPD ARO: musinguzi
“Opening Remarks,” Dr. Eliya Zulu, Deputy Executive Director, APHRC: zulu
“Opening Remarks,” Hon. Blessing Chebundo, Chair, SEAPACOH: chebundo
“Opening Remarks,”: Hon. Dr. Stephen Mallinga, Minister of Health, Government of Uganda: mallinga
Session One:
“Addressing Reproductive Health and Other Health Challenges in Africa,” Dr. Eliya Zulu, APHRC: zulu2
“Findings of the Regional Survey of Parliaments and Implications for Strengthening Parliamentary Work,” Dr. Rene Loewenson, EQUINET: http://www.equinetafrica.org/bibl/docs/DIS73parlgen09.pdf
Session Two:
“Review of SEAPACOH activities, challenges and way forward,” Hon. Blessing Chebundo, Chairperson, SEAPACOH: chebundo2
“Uganda’s progress, achievements and challenges,” Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Parliament of Uganda: baryomunsi
“Malawi’s progress, achievements and challenges,” Hon. Austin Mtukula, Parliament of Malawi: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/mtukula.pdf
Session Three:
“Namibia’s progress, achievements and challenges,” Hon. Hansima Christian, Parliament of Namibia: hansima
“Swaziland’s progress, achievements and challenges,” Hon. Nonhlanhla Dlamini, Parliament of Swaziland: dlamini
“Tanzania’s progress, achievements and challenges,” Hon. Prof. Idris Ali Mtulia, Parliament of Tanzania: mtulia
“Kenya’s progress, achievements and challenges,” Hon. Dr. Ekwee Ethuro, Parliament of Kenya: ethuro
“Zimbabwe’s progress, achievements and challenges,” Hon. Dr. David Parirenyatwa, Parliament of Zimbabwe: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/parirenyatwa.pdf
SEAPACOH’s Strategic Plan
In East and Southern Africa, access to health care is inadequate and inequitable, posing further challenges to addressing health burdens in the region. Governments in the region have promised to dedicate 15% of their domestic budgets to health, and while progress is being made towards this across many countries in the region, few countries in Africa have met this goal. Our governments have also pledged to ensure reproductive health services for all people to reduce maternal death and ill-health, yet every year, thousands of women die in childbirth and family planning services are often unavailable.
Parliaments can and do play a key role in promoting health and health equity through their representative, legislative and oversight roles, including budget oversight. There are a number of documented examples of how these roles have been exercised in East and Southern Africa (ESA) to prioritise health in budgets, to monitor the performance of the executive, to strengthen laws protecting health and to keep the need to redress inequity in health and to promote sexual and reproductive health high on the public agenda (EQUINET SC 2007).
The Southern and East African Parliamentary Alliance of Committees of Health (SEAPACOH) was formed in 2005 and aimed to build a more consistent collaboration of the Parliamentary Committees on Health towards achieving individual and regional goals of health equity and effective responses to HIV and AIDS. Parliaments have carried out field visits to local governments at districts and lower levels to appraise themselves with the prevailing health needs, and mobilised and sensitised leaders at local government levels, in civil society and in communities on health and reproductive health issues. At regional level, parliamentary committees on health have met to review health issues, in 2003, 2005, 2008, and most recently in September 2009.
In 2008, Members of Parliament from twelve (12) countries in East and Southern Africa pledged to advance health equity and sexual and reproductive health in the region. During the 16-18 September 2008 meeting, important resolutions and commitments were made by Parliamentarians geared at improving health equity and reproductive health situation in the region (PPD ARO, EQUINET, APHRC, SEAPACOH et al 2008). The follow up meeting in September 2009, provided an opportunity to review progress, share experiences and lessons learnt over the past one year on the implementation of the resolutions of the September 2008 SEAPACOH meeting. The resolutions from the September 2008 meeting are at: ParliamentResolutionsSEP08; the full meeting report and other reports and documents on parliament work in health since 2003 is at http://www.equinetafrica.org.
On 6-9 April 2009, PPD ARO held a workshop for the steering committee members of the Southern and East African Parliamentary Alliance of Committees of Health (SEAPACOH) to develop and adopt its Strategic Plan (2009 – 2013). Through a participatory process, SEAPACOH formulated its strategic direction and articulated the Alliance’s priority areas of business focus and strategic interventions during the period 2009-2013. The three main areas of focus identified include: ensuring needs-based resourcing of the health sector; ensuring effective domestication, implementation and compliance with agreed upon commitments in the health sector by governments; and ensuring sustainability of the Alliance. The strategic plan is available online at: SEAPACOHstrategicplan
As a follow up to the strategic plan and to the 2008 Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in Eastern and Southern Africa which was held in Kampala, Uganda, Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO) in collaboration with the Regional Network for Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (EQUINET) and African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) under the auspices of the Southern and Eastern African Parliamentary Alliance of Committees on Health (SEAPACOH), jointly organized a meeting in Kampala, Uganda on 21 September 2009. The meeting was held prior to the Third EQUINET Regional Conference 23-25 September 2009 that a number of committee representatives also attended and that provided an opportunity to link parliaments with the wider community and resources involved in work on health equity in the region.
2008 Regional Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in Eastern and Southern Africa
In September 2008, the PPD ARO hosted the 2008 Regional Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in East and Southern Africa, at Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda, from 16-18 September 2008. This meeting gathered members of Parliamentary committees responsible for health from twelve countries in East and Southern Africa, with sixteen technical, government and civil society and regional partners to promote information exchange, facilitate policy dialogue and identify key areas of follow up action to advance health equity and sexual and reproductive health in the region.
This high-level meeting was hosted by PPD ARO in partnership with the Regional Network for Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (EQUINET), the African Population Health Research Centre (APHRC), Venture Strategies for Health and Development, the German Foundation for World Population (DSW), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Southern and East African Parliamentary Alliance of Committees of Health (SEAPACOH). The PPD ARO believes that only with strategic partnerships like these, that the programme to improve SRHR, population and development on the African continent can progress.
At the 2008 Regional Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in East and Southern Africa, representatives from Parliamentary committees agreed to a number of resolutions, including commitments they will pursue for the next two months, and the next year. They agreed that “parliaments must work towards national, regional and international commitments made to protect and advance the right to health and the commitment to equity in health, primary health care and sexual and reproductive heath rights (SRHR) at all levels in East and Southern Africa” including the 2000 African Union Heads of state Abuja declaration and Plan of Action and the Maputo Plan of Action (2006), which work within the framework of the commitments and plans made in relation to the Millennium Development Goals and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).
In particular, the group noted, “the importance of implementing the Maputo Plan of Action to enhance SRHR to enable governments to achieve population goals to provide the necessary conditions for economic and social empowerment and development” and resolved to “ensure that such comprehensive SRHR services include Reproductive Health supplies (for commodity security), government funding for antiretrovirals (ARV) for adults and children, community mobilization on SRHR that involves men, especially in vulnerable communities and for adolescents and youth and education of girl children.”
And within the coming year, the group pledged to “prepare and make budget submissions that . . .Include necessary resource allocations for SRHR and for RH supplies (for commodity security)” and “obtain national population and reproductive health policies and national action plans and request report on progress in their funding and implementation.”
The PPD ARO will reconvene participants in 2009 to follow-up as well as support the linkages between Parliamentarians, Ministers and the technical people in their countries that can support these efforts.
Download the Regional Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in East and Southern Africa meeting report at: parliamentreportsep08
Download the Regional Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in East and Southern Africa resolutions at: ParliamentResolutionsSEP08
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